NYU Issues Worker Rights for Building Abu Dhabi Campus

Submitted by Doug Lederman on February 4, 2010 - 3:00am

New York University on Wednesday issued a series of guidelines and rights for the workers[1] who will be employed in constructing the institution's new campus in Abu Dhabi. The rights wouldn't generally be exceptional in the United States, but go far beyond the way many workers are treated in the region. Employees are assured eight-hour days, overtime will be voluntary and compensated, passports and other documents will be retained by the employees, health insurance will be provided, and so forth. The announcement follows concern from some at NYU's main campus that the workers employed in the Middle East would not be treated appropriately. The Associated Press[2] quoted officials with Human Rights Watch as praising NYU's pledges as "precedent setting" for the region and "a huge step forward."